Ten hour layovers. Flight delays. Even the thought of them
can have you thinking twice about your
holiday overseas
- but there are ways to make them part of the adventure.
Today's best airports are a cross between resorts and
an exclusive shopping malls, offering swimming pools,
fitness clubs, play areas for children and low-cost (or even
five star) hotels. So hopefully you won't find
yourself curling up on the floor of a transit corridor.
Stuck in Singapore?
Changi Airport
has always been traveller friendly. You'll find
fitness and shower facilities, free internet and laptop
charging facilities and even a rooftop pool in Terminal One.
The transit hotel is a good place to rest overnight or for a
few hours, without having to clear immigration.
Shop 'til you drop in Dubai
Dubai's airport is regarded as the world's best
in terms of shopping - all 5,400 square metres of it. The
airport features a 100-room hotel (some rooms are five star)
and a gym and health spa. It even has an 'Irish
Village' if you feel like a taste of the emerald isle
in the desert.
Play while you wait
Qatar's
Doha International Airport
is designed to entertain, and includes a state-of-the-art
game room for kids, or the inner kid, to enjoy.
Amsterdam's
Schiphol
has always been admired for its innovative design, signage
and amenities. It has a meditation room, an art gallery, and
even an express spa service for rejuvenation on the run.
Check out local attractions
If you can clear immigration, and you're close enough
to the city to make it quick and worthwhile, then why not
make this an unexpected stopover? Sydney Airport has a 20
minute train connection to the CBD, from where you can
wander down to the city's famous harbour or through
the Botanic Gardens.
Hong Kong, Zurich, Shanghai and Munich Airports all have
fast rail links.
Make sure you've packed a good book or DVD player in
your carry-on luggage to help you pass the time. And of
course, make sure you have your travel insurance papers.
You'll be covered if you miss any subsequent flights,
as well as for accommodation or lost luggage if necessary.
All of which will make the unexpected delays a more
enjoyable part of the adventure.
